Sunday, September 19, 2010

Chris was looking through some training material and found this from Tim Chester.

• Your suffering and your shame are for a moment. Your reward is forever. • The location where you live now is for a moment. The place where you will live is forever. • Your temptations and your sin are for a moment. Hell is forever. • Your pride and your achievements are for a moment. God‘s glory is forever. • Your career is for a moment. God‘s "Well done, good and faithful servant" is forever. • Your love life is for a moment. Your union with Christ is forever. • Your home now is for a moment. Your home in your heavenly Father‘s house is forever. • Your money and possessions are for a moment. Your heavenly treasure is forever. • Your bank account is for a moment. Your heavenly inheritance is forever.

Saturday, September 18, 2010

We should follow our Lord—as unhesitatingly as sheep follow their shepherd, for He has a right to lead us wherever He pleases. We are not our own, we are bought with a price—let us recognize the rights of the redeeming blood. The soldier follows his captain, the servant obeys his master—much more must we follow our Redeemer, to whom we are a purchased possession.

We are not true to our profession of being Christians—if we question the bidding of our Leader and Commander. Submission is our duty—but caviling is our folly. Often might our Lord say to us as to Peter, "What is that to you? Follow you Me." Wherever Jesus may lead us—He goes before us. If we know not where we go, we know with whom we go. With such a companion, who will dread the perils of the road? The journey may be long—but His everlasting arms will carry us to the end.

The presence of Jesus is the assurance of eternal salvation, because He lives—we shall live also. We should follow Christ in simplicity and faith, because the paths in which He leads us—all end in glory and immortality. It is true, they may not be smooth paths—they may be covered with sharp flinty trials—but they lead to the "city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God." "All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth unto such as keep His covenant."

Let us put full trust in our Leader, since we know that, come prosperity or adversity, sickness or health, popularity or contempt—His purpose shall be worked out, and that purpose shall be pure, unmingled good to every heir of mercy. We shall find it sweet to go up the bleak side of the hill with Christ; and when rain and snow blow into our faces, His dear love will make us far more blessed than those who sit at home and warm their hands at the world's fire. To the top of Amana, to the dens of lions, or to the hills of leopards—we will follow our Beloved. Precious Jesus, draw us—and we will run after You!

Friday, September 17, 2010

Last weekend my friends from church threw a shower for Alexie. It was very special! Walking in one could tell a lot of thought and planning went into this. We started with a delicious dinner. Then it was on to dessert & presents. Taylor was so cute while helping me open presents. I am so thankful for all the gifts but Taylor's shrieking and excitement over every sock & girly thing was precious. After presents they spent time encouraging me in this next season of four kids with scripture and said such kind words. Makes me wonder if they really know me :) Afterward they had picked out a few worship songs they knew were my favorite and we all sang together. I so enjoyed seeing all my new friends and a few of my lifelong friends in one room. Also, Taylor had so much fun with her friends that came with their moms. It was another picture to me of how God has been faithful. I love our church and the group of ladies God has given us. I could see spending the rest of my life learning from them, raising our kids together and bringing Glory to God! I pray that would be his will for some of us!

Here are some pictures from the evening. Most of them are taken by my friends Megan & Sarah.

One my dad snapped before we left my house.

A friend who has been through the anticipation of all four daukas kids. Love you friend!! Thanks for making the hour drive in traffic to be with me! Means so much!

Taylor made all sorts of gifts for Lexie with those who are talented in ways I am not. She made a blanket with Deb and some burp cloths and a onesie with Ruth! Thanks girls for teaching Taylor and helping her create such special gifts!

The awesome cake my friend Ruth made. The pink doesn't really show up in this picture. By this time the sun had long gone down and the lighting wasn't all that great. But it looked and tasted sooo good :)

Hard to read on blogger... but the sign when you walked in was handmade by Sarah and spelled out Alexie Jane.

Sarah had hand painted this tree for Lexie's room. It matches the colors in her quilt. My friends all put a fingerprint in pink paint and by it wrote a verse for her. I loved this idea and will treasure this painting!

They knew both my mom and I needed to keep our legs up when sitting due to our vein issues. Ha. Like mother, like daughter! Ah my poor legs... they are barely holding up and seem to look worse with each passing week. Almost done legs!

Finally my friends know how excited I am to take newborn photo's of my own baby girl. So they decorated the gift table with different things that could be used in taking pictures of her. So thoughtful!

Thank you so much dear friends for blessing me in such a way! I feel so loved. Now I just need my girly to arrive :)

Friday, September 03, 2010

Last Sunday we celebrated our church plant's one year anniversary! Wow... so hard to believe a year has passed already. I've enjoyed the chance to look back and think of all the ways God has been faithful to us. Faithful to me. My fears, my doubts, my own selfish heart. God has been faithful to meet me and lead me through it all. The northwest valley is home to me now.

Last week we had our Daukas Community Group night. It is one of three our church has right now. It was a wonderful time of fellowship and encouraging one another in God's word. I looked around the room and was struck by the fact that not one of these couples were with us a year ago. The group split a few months ago and is getting large enough to multiply again. All full of people that I didn't even know existed a year ago and now are dear friends! That amazes me.

Chris and I were also marveling at how these days needs arise in the church and before we even have a chance to meet the need, it has already been met by someone else in the church! The people the Lord has added to our number are solid believers who get the Gospel, get evangelism and get living life together. It has far exceeded our expectations!

This past Sunday we celebrated by changing things up a bit. We rolled out a new logo and signs. The Lord brought a couple to our church a few months ago and the husband is a gifted graphic designer. He has been eager to use his gifts to help Grace Church and did an outstanding job with the logo. A new website is also on it's way.

Chris had invited all the past visitors to come back and join us for our 1 yr celebration. MANY came. The Pastor's from our sending church in Gilbert came with their wives. It meant a lot to me to have some of my dear friends come and meet some of my new dear friends and it also gave Chris the opportunity to thank and honor the Gilbert pastoral team for their faith and sacrifice in planting our church.

Chris preached an outstanding message on Ephesians 2. It was clear, compelling and perhaps one of his best of the year. After the meeting we served dinner on the back patio. It turned out to be a beautiful night weather wise! We rented a couple bounce houses and did face painting for the kids. That was a huge hit! People stayed and talked late into the night. Basically till we had to kick them because the Rio Vista was closing :)

Thanks to all for your prayers, support and encouragement to Chris & I. We are so excited to see what year two holds for us all!